DOER Announces Public Hearings on RPS Class I & II Rulemaking
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has announced public hearings to receive verbal and written comments on proposed RPS Class I and II regulations.
Last month, DOER filed draft regulations to amend portions of 225 CMR 14--Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Class I (RPS Class I) and 225 CMR 15--Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Class II (RPS Class II). These regulations require all retail electricity suppliers selling electricity to end-use customers in the Commonwealth to obtain specific minimum percentages of their electricity supply from renewable energy generation sources.
Included in these draft regulations is a proposal to delete the long-standing requirement that renewable “imports” be tracked and verified consistent with the NE-GIS rules. If implemented, the elimination of current delivery rules to make undocumented imports RPS eligible could facilitate a number of transactions that could seriously suppress the RPS market values. Those who depend on the Massachusetts or other New England REC markets may have serious concerns with respect to this proposal and may wish to comment, individually or on a coordinated basis.
For assistance with submitting comments, or for questions regarding the proposed regulations, please contact firm energy attorneys Jim Avery or Andrew Kaplan.
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS:
May 13, 2019 | 1-4 PM
100 Cambridge Street
2nd Floor Conference Room
Boston, MA 02114
May 16, 2019 | 1-3 PM
UMass Amherst
Olver Design Building, Room 162
551 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
May 17, 2019 | 1-3 PM
Mt. Wachusett Community College
Arthur F. Haley Academic Building
Multi-Purpose Room #115
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
Written comments on the RPS Class I and RPS Class II Regulations will be accepted until 5 PM on May 24, 2019. Please visit DOER for submission requirements and additional information.